Untranslatable wordNatureItalian

Meriggiare

Meaning: To take a quiet midday rest in a cool, shaded spot, escaping the fierce afternoon sun.

Literally: To rest at midday in the shade

Origin: Italian; famously the first word of a 1916 poem by Eugenio Montale.

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Explore another collection: False Friends

Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.

  • Bravo Actually means 'good, skilled, well-behaved'. For brave, say coraggioso.
  • Camera Actually means 'room'. A camera (device) is una macchina fotografica.
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